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   Solanum mauritianum (tree, shrub)  français     
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      Berries in dense terminal clusters. Globose, densely covered with star-shaped hairs. Become yellow on ripening. They are poisonous to man and act as a host for the fruit-fly. Eagerly eaten by birds which disperse the seeds widely (Photo by R. P. Ellis available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Leaves dull green and velvety above, up to 250 mm long x 100 mm wide; emit a strong smell when bruised (Photo by R. Botha available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Flowers in compact terminal clusters. The inflorescences are very showy and although declared weeds, these plants are sometimes cultivated as ornamentals (Photo by R. Botha available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Leaves white-felty below, midrib thick and very conspicious (Photo by R. Botha available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Fruit in compact, branched, terminal clusters (Photo by R. Botha available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Corolla 5-lobed, lobes spreading and deep purple with a whitish central line. Stamens 5, inserted in corolla-tube; filaments much shorter than anthers; anthers large, oblong, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Style long, terete, with capitate stigma (Photo by R. Botha available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Inflorescence a dense, many flowered, terminal cluster. Note the dense woolly felt covering the sepals and bracts. This greyish velvety covering occurs on most parts of the plant and consists of star-shaped hairs. The hairs are easily dislodged, toxic and cause respiratory problems in humans (Photo by R. P. Ellis available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Much-branched and unarmed with relatively large, woolly leaves (Photo by R. Botha available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Soft wooded perennial shrub or small tree up to 4m high. Large leaves stalked, lower surface densely covered in whitish felt, margins smooth. Widespread weed in South Africa, particularly of disturbed wooded areas and along streams, here from Pretoria (Photo by R. P. Ellis available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size   Typical fruit (a relatively large number of fruit, each containing many seeds, per plant as can be seen from this image) of the bugweed plants that provide food for fruit eating birds over a period of time in the summer months, Munster, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This allows the for easy dissemination of the seed by the birds and for the rapid establishement and spread of this invasive species (Photo by D. C. Nowell available from www.ecoport.org) - Click for full size
    Taxonomic name: Solanum mauritianum (Scopoli, 1788)
    Synonyms: Solanum auriculatum Aiton 1789, Solanum carterianum Rock 1913, Solanum tabaccifolium Vell. 1829, Solanum verbascifolium L. forma typicum Hassl. 1918, Solanum verbascifolium L. ssp. auriculatum (Aiton) Hassl. 1918, Solanum verbascifolium L. var. auriculatum (Aiton) Kuntze 1891
    Common names: bois de tabac marron (French-Reunion (La Réunion)), bringellier marron (French-Reunion (La Réunion)), bugweed (English), flannel weed (English-New Zealand), groot bitterappel (Afrikaans), igayintombi (Zulu), isigwayana (Zulu), kerosene plant (English-New Zealand), luisboom (Afrikaans), morelle de Maurice (French), pua nana honua (Hawaii), pula (Tonga), rau 'ava'ava (Cook Islands), tabac marron (French-Reunion (La Réunion)), tobacco weed (English-New Zealand), tree tobacco (English), umbanga banga (Zulu), wild tobacco (English), woolly nightshade (English-New Zealand)
    Organism type: tree, shrub
    Solanum mauritianum is a widespread invasive weed belonging to the nightshade family. It has the ability to crowd out native plants if growing densely, but, if occurring sparsely, it may act as a nursery crop. All parts of Solanum mauritianum plant are poisonous to humans, especially the berries. This plant is dispersed by birds, with the fruit being especially favoured by some species. Biological control of this species has been undertaken in South Africa.
    Description
    "Shrubs or small trees 2-10m tall, branched above to form a rounded canopy, unarmed, all parts densely pubescent with sessile to long-stalked stellate hairs, loose and floccose on young growth. Leaves paler on lower surface, simple, alternate, elliptic, up to0 cm long and 12cm wide on young vigorous growth, usually ca 8 cm long and ca 7cm wide, on mature stems. When crushed they give off a smell of diesel fuel. Margins entire, apex acuminate, base cuneate, often oblique, petioles 3-9cm long, each with 1-2 smaller auriculate leaves in axils, these sessile, rounded, sometime absent from weak or distal shoots. Flowers perfect, actinomorphic, numerous in branched corymbs, peduncles up to 15cm long to first fork, pedicels 2-3mm long; calyx tube short, 2-3mm long, the lobes narrowly triangular, 2-3mm long; corolla lilac blue with a pale star-shaped area at base, stellate, 1.5-2.5cm in diameter; stamens 5, inserted low on corolla tube; filaments ca 1mm long; anthers oblong, 2-3.5mm long, opening by terminal pores; ovary densely pubescent; style pubescent in lower part, 5-7mm long; stigma green, terminal. Berries green, ripening to dull yellow, succulent, globose, 1-1.5cm in diameter, pubescent at least in early stages. Seeds numerous, flattened, 1.5-2mm long, testa minutely reticulate. Self-compatible ."" (Wagner et al., 1999, in PIER, 2002)"
    Similar Species
    Solanum densevestitum, Solanum stelligerum
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    Occurs in:
    agricultural areas, coastland, natural forests, planted forests, riparian zones, ruderal/disturbed, urban areas
    Habitat description
    In Hawai‘i, naturalized on slopes and ridges in disturbed wet forest (Wagner et. al. 1999 in PIER, 2002). A coloniser of disturbed sites (KZN Wildlife). Tolerates various soil types and is shade-tolerant to a certain degree (Haley, 1997). In South Africa, the plant invades riparian zones, forestry plantations, natural forest, agricultural lands, urban open space and any other disturbed areas (e.g. along roadsides, powerlines etc.), particularly in the eastern, higher rainfall regions of the country (Henderson, 2001).
    General impacts
    Can invade urban areas, native forest margins and pastoral land. May form dense stands that inhibit the growth of other species through overcrowding and shading (Haley, 1997). Can retard the growth of young pine trees (Pinus spp.) (Wildy, 2002). All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans, especially the green berries (ESC, 2003). These berries also provide winter food for the Mediterranean and KwaZulu-Natal fruit flies, which are horticultural pests. The fine hairs on the leaves can be an irritant, especially when they are dislodged during removal operations (Wildy, 2002).
    Uses
    Can be used as a nursery crop in countries where it is less invasive than elsewhere (e.g. Australia). This is because it can provide a protective environment for native vegetation to germinate and grow underneath. This is dependent on the situation though, as it will not be effective if S. mauritianum is so thick that it shades out plants growing beneath it. The fruit may be a valuable food source for native bird species, although these tend to facilitate long-distance dispersal and further invasion (CGC, 2003; T. Olckers, pers. comm.).
    Geographical range
    Native range: Northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil.
    Known introduced range: Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (debatable), Hawai‘i, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Solomon Islands, Tonga, La Réunion Island, Mauritius, Madagascar, Australia, India and several southern African countries.

    Invasive in:New Zealand, South Africa, Australia.
    Introduction pathways to new locations
    Agriculture: Invaded rangelands (T. Olckers, pers. comm.)
    For ornamental purposes: Introduced to New Zealand as a garden plant. (Mather, 1998). Introduced for flowers and to attract fruit-feeding birds (T. Olckers, pers. comm.)
    Forestry: Invaded plantations (T. Olckers, pers. comm.)

    Local dispersal methods
    Agriculture (local): Local source of invasion (T. Olckers, pers. comm.)
    Consumption/excretion: Seed spread by birds and other animals. (Eurobodalla Shire Council, 2003). Dispersal is mainly through birds, which eat the fruit and deposit the seeds long distances from the host plant (Haley, 1997).
    Forestry (local): Local source of invasion (T. Olckers, pers. comm.)
    Garden escape/garden waste: Spread by seed in dumped garden waste. (Eurobodalla Shire Council, 2003)
    Management information
    Chemical: Easily killed with herbicides. In South Africa, several chemicals (e.g. glyphosate, triclopyr, imazapyr) are registered as foliar, basal stem or cut stump applications. Manual control involves ring-barking trees or removing seedlings by hand (Wildy, 2002).

    Biological: Biological control has been instituted in South Africa, with the release of a sap-sucking lace bug (Gargaphia decoris) in 1999 (Olckers, 1999, 2000). However, this insect has proved ineffective to date. Permission for the release of the flowerbud weevil (Anthonomus santacruzi) that prevents fruiting is currently being sought in South Africa (T. Olckers, pers. comm.).

    Reproduction
    Seed. Some 20-80 berries are borne on each inflorescence, each of which contains about 150 seeds (T. Olckers, pers. comm.).
    Lifecycle stages
    Flowers and fruits all year round (Wildy, 2002). Germination of seeds stored in soil is stimulated by fire (ESC, 2003). Seedlings that become established in summer can flower by autumn. Plants can grow to a height of several metres within 2-3 years. Mature plants begin to die after 15 years (Haley, 1997).
    Reviewed by: Dr. Terry Olckers, ARC - Plant Protection Research Institute, South Africa.
    Compiled by: IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
    Last Modified: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
ISSG Landcare Research NBII IUCN University of Auckland The Global Invasive Species Database is managed by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. It was developed as part of the global initiative on invasive species led by the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) and is supported through partnerships with the National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Conditions of use.